Q. We are all sinners, and though I thank God every day for all he has provided me, and beg him to not leave me, how do I know when all is said and done and I am standing before God he will not say to me, “Be gone! I know you not.” Several of us were talking about this and I thought I would ask you. We do believe that Jesus is the son of God made man who came to earth and died for our sins that we may know everlasting life in heaven. It is only by the blood of Jesus washing us clean that we can ever hope to stand before God the father and hope and pray he tells us welcome. So there you have it. Can you help?
A. Here are several simple and clear verses that give us great comfort and should leave no doubt as to our position before God.
John 3:16 says that God so loved the world that He gave His only beloved son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
Romans 10:9 says that if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts the God raised Him from the dead we will be saved. Romans 19:13 says everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Ephesians 1:13 says we were saved at the moment we first believed and were marked with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. Before we had done anything good to earn it or anything bad to lose it, our salvation was guaranteed.
2 Cor. 1:21-22 agrees, adding that it’s God who makes us stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come.
We could go on here with numerous other verses like John 6:28-29. John 6:40, Titus 3:4-7, Hebrews 7:25 and Hebrews 10:12-14. The under girding principle in all of them is that we’re not saved by our behavior but by our belief.
